Trump’s Treasury pick Scott Bessent: The Ivy League populist who’s winning over MAGA and Wall Street, and shaking up Washington
By willowt // 2025-01-25
Copy
 
  • Scott Bessent, a Wall Street veteran with a surprising populist streak, has been nominated for Treasury secretary by President-elect Donald Trump, signaling a bold new direction for Trump’s economic agenda.
  • Bessent’s unlikely journey from a Soros lieutenant to a Trump loyalist showcases his political savvy and ability to bridge the gap between Wall Street and the populist wing of the Republican Party.
  • As Treasury secretary, Bessent will face the challenges of implementing Trump’s ambitious economic agenda, including aggressive tariffs, tax cuts, and efforts to maintain the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.
  • Bessent’s market expertise and deep understanding of global markets set him apart from other Trump appointees, earning him the trust of Wall Street even as he champions policies that align with Trump’s populist base.
  • If confirmed, Bessent will be the first openly gay Treasury secretary and the first openly LGBTQ Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration, marking a new chapter in the story of Trumponomics.
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office for a second term, his choice for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, is already making waves. A Wall Street veteran with a surprising populist streak, Bessent represents a unique blend of elite financial expertise and MAGA ideology. His nomination signals a bold new direction for Trump’s economic agenda, one that aims to reconcile the demands of global markets with the “America First” policies that have defined the former president’s political brand.

From Soros to MAGA: Bessent’s unlikely journey

Scott Bessent’s resume reads like a who’s who of the financial elite. A Yale graduate and former chief investment officer at George Soros’s hedge fund, Bessent made his name in the high-stakes world of macro investing. Yet, despite his Wall Street pedigree, Bessent has managed to win over the populist wing of the Republican Party, including Trump’s inner circle. “He went Ivy League and has an elite Wall Street pedigree, but he’s a true populist – he’s MAGA to his core,” said Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist and a key figure in the MAGA movement. Bessent’s transformation from a Soros lieutenant to a Trump loyalist is a testament to his political savvy. After leaving Soros Fund Management in 2015, Bessent founded his own hedge fund, Key Square Group, and began cultivating relationships with influential figures in Trump’s orbit. He donated $1.5 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and became a vocal advocate for the former president’s economic policies, even adopting Trump’s provocative rhetoric. “Hearing the Biden administration say that the US needs to balance its budget is like Hannibal Lecter saying he’s going to go vegan,” Bessent quipped during a visit to Bloomberg News in June.

The challenges ahead: Tariffs, taxes and the dollar’s dominance

Bessent’s confirmation hearing, expected to be a smooth process in a Republican-controlled Senate, will mark the beginning of a high-stakes balancing act. As Treasury secretary, he will be tasked with implementing Trump’s ambitious economic agenda, which includes aggressive tariffs, tax cuts and efforts to maintain the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency. Trump’s proposed 60% tariff on Chinese goods and a 20% tariff on all other imports have raised concerns among economists and investors. While tariffs are often criticized as inflationary and inefficient, Bessent has defended them as a tool for achieving foreign policy objectives. “I think that tariffs in a way can be regarded as an economic sanction without a sanction,” Bessent told Bloomberg in August. “If you don’t like Chinese economic policy, flooding the market with overproduction, you could put a sanction on them, or a tariff. It’s also an answer to currency manipulation.” Bessent’s ability to navigate these contentious issues will be critical. With Treasury yields testing 5% and global markets on edge, his performance could determine whether Trump’s second term is marked by economic stability or turmoil.

A populist with a market-friendly touch

What sets Bessent apart from other Trump appointees is his deep understanding of global markets. Unlike Janet Yellen, whose Treasury Department was criticized for being overly academic, Bessent brings a trader’s perspective to the role. “They didn’t get inflation right, and Yellen has owned up to that,” said Gregory Faranello, head of US rates trading and strategy for AmeriVet Securities. “But every few years we have a hiccup in markets, and someone with a market background brings the right mix of experience and draws the market confidence to address that.” Bessent’s market expertise has earned him the trust of Wall Street, even as he champions policies that align with Trump’s populist base. His ability to bridge these two worlds is a rare skill in today’s polarized political climate.

A historic nomination

If confirmed, Bessent will not only be the first openly gay Treasury secretary but also the first openly LGBTQ Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration. His nomination reflects the evolving dynamics of the GOP, which has increasingly embraced diversity in its ranks. “If you had told me in 1984, when we graduated, and people were dying of AIDS, that 30 years later I’d be legally married and we would have two children via surrogacy, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Bessent told the Yale Alumni Magazine in 2015.

A test of Trumponomics

Scott Bessent’s nomination is a microcosm of the broader tensions within the Republican Party: the push and pull between populism and pragmatism, between Main Street and Wall Street. As Treasury secretary, he will be at the center of critical policy debates that will shape the future of the US economy. Whether Bessent can successfully implement Trump’s vision while maintaining market confidence remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: his confirmation marks the beginning of a new chapter in the story of Trumponomics – one that could redefine the role of the Treasury in an era of unprecedented economic challenges. As the nation watches Bessent take the reins, the question on everyone’s mind is whether this Ivy League populist can deliver on his promise to put America first without sacrificing its place in the global economy. Sources include: Bloomberg.com CBSNews.com APNews.com
Copy